The Alliance at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026

The Alliance at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026
on
at Kigali Convention Centre, Kigali (Rwanda)

AFSF logo The Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2026, taking place in Kigali, Rwanda from 31 August to 5 September 2026, is the world’s premier platform for African agriculture and food systems. Marking 20 years of food systems transformation, this year’s Summit convenes governments, the private sector, research institutions, farmers’ organizations, youth networks and development partners under the theme “Investing in Africa’s Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience”.

Discussions will focus on investment and improved access to finance as key enablers of transformation – strengthening partnerships as ODA declines, unlocking innovative public and private financing, investing in youth and women, scaling sustainable production and nutritious food, developing food corridors, markets and trade, and building climate resilience through effective new technologies.

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT joins AFSF 2026 as a strategic, implementation-oriented partner for African-led food systems transformation, bringing science, data and partnerships to bear on three priority areas: nutrition and self-sufficiency (school meals and diverse, locally produced foods), value chains and market access (linking smallholders to structured markets and finance), and climate resilience (resilient seed systems, climate-smart agriculture and restoration). In Kigali, the Alliance will also celebrate two milestones: the Africa launch of its new strategy and the 30th anniversary of the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA).

Our involvement

August 31, 2026

Special event: PABRA 30th Anniversary

31 August 2026 08:00–18:00
Kigali Convention Centre
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Jean Claude Rubyogo

Leader, Global Bean Program, and Director, Pan Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA)

Liz Ogutu

Policy Manager and Lead, Eastern and Southern Africa region for Climate Action

 Three decades of the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) have transformed bean research, seed systems and markets across more than 30 African countries. This celebration will look back at the partnership’s impact on nutrition, incomes and climate resilience – and ahead to the next generation of bean innovations for Africa’s food systems.

September 1, 2026

Special event: Alliance Strategy Launch – Africa

1 September 2026 08:00–10:00
To be confirmed
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The Africa launch of the Alliance’s new strategy will present our vision and priorities for supporting African-led food systems transformation under the new CAADP agenda – from science and innovation to scaling and policy engagement – followed by an exchange with partners.

September 1, 2026

Bright Lights session: Investing in Diverse Crops

1 September 2026 10:00–12:00
Innovation Hub
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Liz Ogutu

Policy Manager and Lead, Eastern and Southern Africa region for Climate Action

Co-organized with AGRA and SNV, this session will explore how investing in diverse and underutilized crops can improve nutrition, open new markets for African farmers and strengthen the resilience of production systems.

Plenary: Connecting Climate Action with Livelihoods

1 September 2026 13:30–15:30
Main Plenary Stage
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 Organized with GOGLA and SNV, this plenary will examine how climate action can be designed to deliver tangible benefits for rural livelihoods – connecting adaptation, energy and agriculture so that resilience investments translate into jobs and incomes.

September 2, 2026

Platform side event: Climate Adaptation Finance & Partnerships

2 September 2026 08:00–09:30
To be confirmed
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With SNV and AGRA, this side event will discuss how African countries can unlock adaptation finance – including from development finance institutions and climate funds such as the GEF and GCF – and how partnerships can de-risk and scale climate-resilient agriculture.

Breakthrough event: Alliance–MATI Memorandum of Understanding

2 September 2026 13:00–15:00
To be confirmed
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Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding formalizing a new strategic partnership to advance food systems transformation priorities in Africa.

Workshop: Behavioural Science and AI for Food Systems

2 September 2026 14:00–16:00
Radisson Blu, Kigali
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A hands-on workshop with Busara and Athena AI on how behavioural science and artificial intelligence can improve the design, targeting and impact of food systems interventions across Africa.

September 3, 2026

Platform side event: Investing in Africa’s Resilient Food Systems: Advancing Sustainable Production Through Regenerative Agriculture

3 September 2026 08:00–09:30
Kigali Convention Centre
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Organized with SNV and the IKEA Foundation, this session will showcase how regenerative agriculture, from soil health to agroecological practices, can scale sustainable production across African landscapes, and what investments and policies are needed to take it to scale.

Platform side event: Financing Home-Grown School Feeding

3 September 2026 08:00–09:30
To be confirmed
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School meals are one of Africa’s smartest investments: sourcing nutritious, diverse, locally produced foods – including neglected and underutilized species – improves children’s diets while creating stable demand for smallholder farmers. This session will explore sustainable financing models for home-grown school feeding programmes at national scale.

September 4, 2026

Breakthrough session: NextGen Rice Leaders

4 September 2026 08:30–10:00
Kigali Convention Centre
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Organized with IRRI and AfricaRice, this session will spotlight the next generation of rice sector leaders – youth, jobs and inclusive enterprise across Africa’s rice value chains.

Agenda at a glance 

Date 

Time 

Session / Activity 

Alliance speakers 

31 Aug 

08:00–18:00 

PABRA 30th Anniversary (Special event) – Kigali Convention Centre 

JC Rubyogo, JL Restrepo, W. Kamau-Rutenberg, L. Ogutu 

1 Sep 

08:00–10:00 

Alliance Strategy Launch – Africa (Special event) – venue TBC 

JL Restrepo, M. Quintero, W. Kamau-Rutenberg 

1 Sep 

10:00–12:00 

Investing in Diverse Crops (Bright Lights) – Innovation Hub 

L. Ogutu 

1 Sep 

13:30–15:30 

Connecting Climate Action with Livelihoods (Plenary) – Main Plenary Stage 

JL Restrepo 

2 Sep 

08:00–09:30 

Climate Adaptation Finance & Partnerships (Platform side event) – venue TBC 

P. A. Chilambe 

2 Sep 

13:00–15:00 

Alliance–MATI MoU signing (Breakthrough event) – venue TBC 

M. Quintero, W. Kamau-Rutenberg 

2 Sep 

14:00–16:00 

Behavioural science & AI workshop with Busara and Athena AI – Radisson Blu 

W. Kamau-Rutenberg 

3 Sep 

08:00–09:30 

Investing in Africa’s Resilient Food Systems: Regenerative Agriculture (Platform side event) – Kigali Convention Centre 

W. Kamau-Rutenberg, M. Quintero 

3 Sep 

08:00–09:30 

Financing Home-Grown School Feeding (Platform side event) – venue TBC 

W. Kamau-Rutenberg 

4 Sep 

08:30–10:00 

NextGen Rice Leaders (Breakthrough session, title TBC) – Kigali Convention Centre 

M. F. Álvarez 

In the lead-up to the Forum:

  • 28 July – Webinar: Shifting Norms, Shaping Systems (Gender), with ILRI – Eileen Nchanji
  • 5 August – Webinar on climate resilience, with SNV and GOGLA – Pedro Anglaze Chilambe

Relevant resources